Need suggestions for my next brew, tomorrow !

brewman ! · 03-17-2007, 01:24 AM

My wife suggested I brew another batch of beer for summer. I've done 3 3 gallon batches thus far, a ginger peach ale that we are drinking now, a cranberry ale and a Corona clone.

We like lighter beers and fruit beers. She wants it to be a summer beer, something crisp and refreshing. I like moderately hopped pilsners.

Any suggestions ?

**the_bird** · 03-17-2007, 01:28 AM

You could always do a wheat beer. You doing extract? Either do a hefe (VERY easy), or you could do a fruited wheat beer, using either real fruit or extract. Not my thing, personally, but it might be something you would like.

Beerrific · 03-17-2007, 02:15 AM

Do a hefeweizen. Great summer brew IMO. Kick the fermentation temp up to 72-73 and you will have a nice fruity (naturally) beer.

I plan to do one in the next few weeks.

**Schlenkerla** · 03-17-2007, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewman !

My wife suggested I brew another batch of beer for summer. I've done 3 3 gallon batches thus far, a ginger peach ale that we are drinking now, a cranberry ale and a Corona clone.

We like lighter beers and fruit beers. She wants it to be a summer beer, something crisp and refreshing. I like moderately hopped pilsners.

Any suggestions ?

If you want something different you could do a english cider.

5 gal or pasteurized Apple Juice
2 oz of yeast nutrient "DAP"
1 nottingham yeast pack
Follow the simple 1-2-3 rule;

1 week in Primary,
2 weeks in 2ndary,
3 weeks carbing

Carb as normal. - 3/4 cup corn sugar

It will be dry light and fruity but also crisp. It tastes good in summer.

You could do a standard pale but hop with Nelson Sauvin - AAU:12-14%

BEERTOOLS: Nelson Sauvin - New Zealand - Early trials with Nelson Sauvin immediately revealed it to be somewhat different in its brewing character than other hop cultivars. This variety imparts certain grape like flavours to the beer; flavours which have yet to be positively identified. To acknowledge this Sauvignon Blanc flavour the variety was named Nelson Sauvin.

If you do the Nelson Pale Ale let us know how it goes. I've been thinking about trying this.

Tony · 03-17-2007, 03:29 AM

My suggestion would be an Apricot Wheat. Brew a nice crisp, clean American wheat, and either add actual apricot puree to the secondary for a real apricot taste, or you can add apricot extract at bottling/kegging time.

**BierMuncher** · 03-17-2007, 03:41 AM

I like the hefe's alright, but you'd better love the flavor of clove.

I brewed two good summer ales the last two weekends...

A Beglian Wit (aka Bluemoon) and a Blonde Ale.

Both are light and crisp and the Belgian has a nice orange and coriander tone. It's also a lighter session style so good to quench the thirst without too much buzz....

Ó Flannagáin · 03-17-2007, 07:02 AM

Its important to use yeast specifically designed for wheat to get the right taste though. I used WLP300... hefe turned out Excellent!

brewman ! · 03-17-2007, 01:49 PM

Hmmm... interesting ideas, guys. I never thought of doing a wheat beer. I'm doing 3 gallon batches and I don't want to spend $9 on a liquid yeast. Could I use a dry ale or lager yeast with a wheat beer and still get something good ?

Tell me more about the blonde ale. What does it taste like ?

**EdWort** · 03-17-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewman !

She wants it to be a summer beer, something crisp and refreshing. Any suggestions ?

Did you say Crisp & Refreshing for Summer? Well now, I have just the thing.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f25/man-i-love-apfelwein-14860/

Chilled & carbed, this stuff is amazingly crisp & refreshing on a hot summer day after working in the yard. It's also brain dead easy to make. Be careful though, the Surgeon General thinks it may have some dependency problems

**the_bird** · 03-17-2007, 02:09 PM

Remember, you can re-use the yeast a couple of times, so if you make three batches a good liquid yeast is only $3 a batch. I thought I saw a new dried wheat yeast on the market, but it's new, I have no idea if it's any good, and I'm not sure how easily you'de be able to put your hands on it. You certainly can't make a hefe without the proper yeast, so if you go that route, I'd be sticking at least to "American" or fruit-wheat beers, where the yeast flavor is not the dominant flavor (like it is with a hefe).